Impostor syndrome facts for kids

For other uses, see Impostor syndrome (disambiguation).

Impostor syndrome, also called impostor phenomenon or impostorism, is when people feel like they don't deserve their success. Even when they do well, they worry they might be found out as a "fraud." They might think their achievements are just luck or that they tricked others into thinking they are smart. This feeling can make relationships difficult and stop people from reaching their full potential.

When impostor syndrome was first talked about, it was thought to mostly affect successful women. But now, we know it can affect both guys and girls equally. People with impostor syndrome often have other feelings like anxiety or depression. While it's not a mental illness, there are ways to help manage these feelings.

How Impostor Syndrome Was Discovered
Understanding Impostor Syndrome
How We Measure Impostor Syndrome
Who Experiences Impostor Syndrome?
- Impostor Syndrome and Gender
- Where Impostor Syndrome Happens
Why Do People Feel Like Impostors?
Coping with Impostor Syndrome
Famous People Who Felt Like Impostors
See also

How Impostor Syndrome Was Discovered

The idea of impostor phenomenon was first shared in 1978. Two researchers, Pauline R. Clance and Suzanne A. Imes, wrote about it. They called it "an inner feeling of not being smart enough." Their first studies focused on women in college and professional jobs.

The researchers talked to over 100 women. All these women were recognized for being excellent at their jobs or studies. They had good grades and degrees. But even with all this praise, they didn't believe in themselves. When asked about their success, some said it was just luck. Others thought people had simply overestimated them.

Clance and Imes believed these feelings came from things like gender stereotypes or family issues. They also found that these women often felt anxious, lacked self-confidence, or were sad. They also felt frustrated when they couldn't meet their own very high standards.

Understanding Impostor Syndrome

Some people with impostor syndrome might think their problems aren't serious enough for help. They might compare themselves to others and feel their own issues are minor. This can stop them from seeking support.

Impostor syndrome is seen as a reaction to certain situations. It's an experience someone has, not a mental disorder. It's not listed in official guides for mental health, like the DSM. However, these guides do mention low self-esteem and feeling like a failure as signs of depression.

How We Measure Impostor Syndrome

In 1985, Clance created a way to measure impostor phenomenon. It's called the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS). This scale helps find out if someone has feelings of fear. These fears include:

Fear of being judged.
Fear of not staying successful.
Fear of not being as good as others.

The CIPS also looks at a person's self-esteem. It checks how they see their own success. While helpful, some studies suggest that individual parts of the scale might not always be perfectly accurate.

Clance also explained six main signs of impostor syndrome. A person usually experiences at least two of these:

The impostor cycle (a pattern of feelings).
The need to be special or the best.
Trying to be a "superman" or "superwoman."
Fear of failure.
Not accepting praise or denying their own skills.
Feeling fear and guilt about being successful.

Who Experiences Impostor Syndrome?

It's thought that almost 70% of people will feel signs of impostor syndrome at least once in their lives. It's very common for students when they start a new school or college. Being in a new place can make you feel unsure of yourself. This can lower your self-confidence and belief in your own abilities.

Impostor Syndrome and Gender

When it was first studied, Clance and Imes thought impostor syndrome was less common in men. But newer research shows it affects men and women about the same. Women often feel it about their performance. They might feel they need to do better than others. For men, it's often about the fear of not being good enough or failing.

Where Impostor Syndrome Happens

Impostor syndrome can show up in many different places. This includes new environments, school, work, social events, and even friendships or romantic relationships.

In relationships, people with impostor syndrome often feel they don't meet the expectations of their friends or family. They might think they somehow tricked others into liking them. They feel unworthy or don't deserve the good relationships they have.

Studies show that impostor syndrome can harm students. When students feel better about their academic skills, impostor syndrome feelings go down. And if those feelings go up, their academic self-concept goes down. Students often worry about not being prepared for school. They might question why they were accepted into a program. They might also think good grades or awards were just luck, not because of their own intelligence.

Research has also looked at how impostor syndrome affects students from ethnic minority groups. These students sometimes feel like frauds, which can cause them stress. They might wrongly believe they were accepted into a program only because of special policies, instead of their amazing skills.

Why Do People Feel Like Impostors?

Research shows that impostor syndrome is connected to several things:

Family expectations.
Having very protective parents.
Doing advanced schoolwork, like graduate studies.
Racial identity.
How people explain events to themselves.
Anxiety.
Depression.
Low self-esteem.
Being a perfectionist.
Watching oneself too closely, especially about self-worth.

These things often go together for people with impostor syndrome. But it's important to remember that these connections don't necessarily *cause* the impostor experience.

People with impostor syndrome often feel guilty, which can lead to a fear of success. Here are some common thoughts that cause guilt and make the feeling worse:

Feeling guilty about getting a good education.
Feeling bad when others praise their success.
Believing it's not fair to be in a better situation than a friend.
Being called things like:
- "The smart one"
- "The talented one"
- "The responsible one"
- "The good one"

Coping with Impostor Syndrome

In their 1978 paper, Clance and Imes suggested a way to help people with impostor syndrome. They used group meetings where people could meet others who felt the same way. The researchers found that these group meetings really helped. People realized they weren't alone in their feelings.

Participants also had homework. One task was to remember all the people they thought they had "fooled." Another was to write down positive feedback they received. Then, they had to think about why they got that feedback and why they saw it negatively. In the group, they also practiced changing negative thoughts. For example, changing "I might fail this exam" to "I will do well on this exam."

The researchers found that simply getting rid of self-doubt before an event helps reduce impostor feelings. They also suggested getting support from friends and family. Even though impostor syndrome isn't a mental illness, it's a way of thinking about yourself that can really hurt your self-worth.

Other ways to help with impostor syndrome focus on self-worth. People with impostor syndrome often connect their self-esteem to what others think. A big part of therapy is learning to separate these two ideas.

In 2013, researcher Queena Hoang suggested that having inner motivation can lessen the feeling of being a fraud. She also thought that having a mentor program for new students could help. A mentor who has been through the program can support new students. This makes their transition much smoother and less overwhelming.

Many types of psychotherapy can help with impostor syndrome. Group psychotherapy is especially common and effective.

Famous People Who Felt Like Impostors

Maya Angelou: "I have written 11 books, but each time I think, 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now. I've run a game on everybody, and they're going to find me out.'"

Here are some well-known people who have said they experienced impostor syndrome: